Monday, January 26, 2015

The Move...and what happened next.

Whew... another week gone.

This week we had interviews with President and that was great. So laid back. President Franco is the coolest. And he's done SO MUCH for this mission. We're really so lucky to have him.

This week, we also FINALLY moved out of our old pensión. It would have been great, if we hadn't both been sick and the new pensión didn't have it's own arrangement of problems. The first day there, Hna. Fullmer was sleeping (because she's so sick) And I was just studying on my bed when OUT OF NOWHERE, there's WATER EVERYWHERE!! It had been raining diseased cats and three-legged dogs and our windows and door weren't water tight and alas. Flooded on the first day. Luckily, I was able to save everything before it all got ruined and the members who live below us were more than happy to help us. Also, our shower doesn't work. I was SO looking forward to having a shower for the first time in OVER A MONTH but alas... it was not to be. Back to the bucket and cup method.

This week, we had to work as a trio for a couple of days while Hna. Flores' comp. was in Cordoba. It was fun but also exhausting. Working in a trio is hard work. But Hna. Flores is de diez so it  was a lot of fun. And she helped us move on Friday.

Other than that, there's not much to report. The picture this week is of us with the Familia Neumann. They're the greatest but they're moving to Salta in a couple of weeks. We're really sad about it. Also, Hermana Fullmer and I at entrevistas! Yay!


Here's hoping this week brings better health and lots of work. I'm pretty sure we're going to Pirané again for divisiones so that will be fun. But sooner than we know it, another transfer will be gone. How crazy.

Until next week, well wishes.
Hermana Hein


Wednesday, January 21, 2015

A little family reunion

Holar from Argentina.

We had another hot week here in Formosa but what else is new? I learned a good new trick from the zone leaders: put a giant leaf inside your hat and it soaks up the heat... kind of... Now I'm a legit Formoseñan. (I honestly have no idea how that's spelled. Whatever.)

This week, we did divisiones with some of the sisters in our zone including... HERMANA FLORES!! YAY! We had good little MTC reunion. She came here to our area and Hna. Fullmer went to her area with her companion. It was an adventure to say the least. Both of us have exactly ZERO Spanish conversation skills so it made contacting rather interesting. Haha. But it was fun. We had a blast together.
Leaf under hat


We've been working with a less active family named the Duarte's and they are the greatest. They haven't been to church in probably... six years? And guess who came to church yesterday?? HERMANO DUARTE. Yeah. We were so excited. Every time we meet with them we have a crazy spiritual experience so we knew that spirit would wear on them eventually and it paid off! Also, I had to give a talk in Sacrament meeting about keeping the Sabbath Day holy. The Argentines aren't really into my jokes (it doesn't help that my Spanish isn't great) so it felt really boring but alas. Lots of people (including Hno. Duarte) stayed for the whole three hours so I did something right.
No leaf under hat

But that's pretty much it for this week. It was a long one but a good one. Hope everything is well. Until next week,
Hermana Hein

Monday, January 12, 2015

Ch-ch-ch-ch Changes...

Yeah. I would be lying if I said I didn't want to listen to David Bowie right now. But that's not even the point. The point is that there are some GRAND changes taking place here in the mission. Really, in all the missions in South America South. As missionaries, we have these 'key indicators' or numbers that we shoot for everyday. Things like, "lessons taught with a member present" "Lessons with less active members" and so forth. We set goals for how many of each we want for the next day. Yeah. All of those numbers. GONE. We don't set goals for those things anymore. I don't know if the gravity of this situation will translate here in this meager email, but let me just tell you... it changed our WHOLE way of working. And I LOVE it.

Before, all we wanted was numbers. And it wasn't working. We were more focused on have "7 other lessons taught" in one day than focusing on the people that really needed our help. And just in the past week, we have seen a HUGE difference. No. We didn't teach as many people this week, but the lessons we DID have meant so much more. We had a lesson with a less active member and his girlfriend and we taught them about the Atonement. It was so cool. There's a promise in Doctrine and Covenants somewhere that says if you put your faith in the Lord, he will give you the words to say. And that promise is REAL. I don't even know what I said. I can't remember. But Hna. Fullmer told me after that it was just what they needed to hear. I don't know how to explain it. But it was so cool. I'm so grateful that the Lord trusts me enough to do his work. And I'm so grateful for his help.

Remember how difficult it was for me to speak with people in ENGLISH? Yeah. Welcome to Argentina where I HAVE  to speak with people... in SPANISH. It's hard. But I put my trust in the Lord and He delivered.

In other news, we're hoping to move to a new pension some time this week. Hna. Fullmer is sick of ours. And I'm not gonna lie... it's kind of a dump. Okay yeah. It's really a dump. We have ants and our shower hasn't worked for almost 3 weeks. So... we use a bucket everyday. Once again I say, "'¡BIENVENIDO A ARGENTINA!" Just part of life here in the good ole south. But yeah. We're gonna move.

Also, we had to do divisions TWICE this week, and both times, I stayed here in the area. It was kind of scary. Not going to lie. The first division, I did with a member. Not even another missionary. AH! Crazy. It really gave me a chance to test the waters. THE TRAINING WHEELS ARE COMING OFF FOLKS!! Okay. Technically not for another 3 weeks but still. It was fun to get to work with Sol too. Because she's awesome. (see picture attached)



That's about it for this week. It was a big week but at the same time, I feel like nothing happened. I guess that's just the mission. It was really hot this week. But that's just summer in Formosa. Okay.

Tortuga (In Jack Sparrow's Voice)
I'm peacing out.
Best wishes, Hermana Hein

Monday, January 5, 2015

No Change is GOOD!

"We can stay up late, swapping missionary stories,
and in the morning, I'm making waffles!" 
It seems... I am meant to stay in Terminal for another transfer... So be it... Just kidding. I'm way excited. Hna. Fullmer and I have been doing really well and growing a lot as a companionship. We hope and pray that this transfer brings even more success and good work.

Just yesterday, we FINALLY had an investigator in church. Araceli, who we've been teaching for a number of weeks was finally able to rearrange her work schedule so she could come to Sacrament Meeting. It was really good for her. She really enjoyed the spirit that she felt there and the kindness of all the members. We pray that she's able to fix her schedule so she can come every week. Because church is just what she needs to strengthen her testimony.

This week we've been working really hard to find more people to teach. More people who are prepared to hear and live the gospel. We prayed to know where to contact and were led to the door of a man named Oscar. We couldn't teach him right then in that moment but we set a time that we could come back and left him a Restoration pamphlet to read. He was very nice and seemed open to hearing what we had to say. So we went back yesterday, not really knowing what to expect (Because pretty much everyone here lets you in.) But it was a REALLY good lesson. The spirit was really strong and he listened and participated attentively. It was awesome. We're praying good things come from him.

New Years was fine. Hna. Fullmer kept saying that last year, she didn't sleep at all because people were in the streets partying all night. Lighting fireworks, blasting music, You know... those kinds of fun things. But we didn't have that problem at all. There were some fireworks but not enough to keep me from sleeping and the next day, the streets were straight up, EMPTY. Work on New Years Day wasn't work at all. It was walking a lot and talking to nobody. Haha.

But it was okay. We're glad we have another transfer together here in our area and hope that we have some good things come out of it. We're here for a reason and we're going to work hard to fulfill that purpose.

But that's pretty much it for this week. Sorry that once again, it wasn't super exciting. But we basically do the same thing all day every day. so... yeaahh... Okay. Until next week then.

Best wishes!
Hermana Hein